Adam Faucett (Little Rock, AR)

Adam Faucett - Saturday

“Hands down, one of the greatest, most thoughtful lyricists the state has to offer —certainly one of the most respected songsmiths around. Adam Faucett manages to get under your ribs, effortlessly. ”

JT Tarpley, Arkansas Times

Drawing comparisons from Townes Van Zandt to Tim Buckley to Otis Redding, Arkansas born and bred Adam Faucett is most known for his powerful, almost operatic voice and intricate finger-picking. The Arkansas native’s sound has been described by The Arkansas Times as “somewhere between Otis Redding’s soul shout and Cat Power’s swampy poeticism”.

A true road runner, Adam has been criss-crossing the country for four years in support of his two prior releases 2007’s The Great Basking Shark and 2008’s Show Me Magic, Show Me Out, sharing the stage with Lucero, Calexico, The Legendary Shack Shakers, Vetiver, Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music, Damien Jurado and Elf Power.

Faucett’s newest release More Like A Temple pushes out in all directions, simultaneously more folk, more rock, more melodic, more soul, and more sinister than all of his previous work. The Arkansas Times has raved “More Like A Temple is far beyond good. It may just be one of the most vital documents from a young musician to come out of town in years”.

Originally from Benton, AR, now residing in Little Rock, Adam previously released two albums as a solo artist and one with now disbanded Russellville, AR local heroes, Taught The Rabbits, which Adam has called “A Lush, Pink Floyd and Sonic Youth-inspired group; kids who grew up in a gravel pit tipping their hats to their psychedelic heroes from so far away.” Taught The Rabbits’ One But Just Another and Mallet and Watch were released in 2001 and 2006 and the band established a strong local following, touring regionally and sharing the stage with Calexico and Lucero.

In 2006 Adam relocated to Chicago where he wrote the material that would become his first solo album and began playing solo shows around town. In 2007, he moved back to Arkansas to record “The Great Basking Shark” with longtime friend and producer Darian Stribling (Bob Goblin). The record displayed a focus on storytelling and roots arrangements, showcasing Faucett’s strong vocals, unique finger-picking, and banjo playing. Adam toured extensively throughout the US in support of the album, playing over 100 shows from coast to coast.

In 2008, Adam returned to Blue Chair Studio to record “Show Me Magic, Show Me Out” (Blue Tint) with Stribling, and newly assembled live band “The Tall Grass” , comprised of Little Rock musicians Chad Conder (drums) and Jonny D. (bass). “Show Me Magic, Show Me Out” demonstrated the electric folk soul sound that the band had been honing in live shows and marked further evolution in Faucett’s songwriting. The Arkansas Times raved “Even the greatest American folk singers would be hard-pressed to leave such a vivid account…”. Faucett continued his rigorous touring schedule, opening for bands including The Legendary Shack Shakers, Vetiver, Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music, Damien Jurado and Elf Power.

Faucett’s newest release “More Like A Temple” marks a further evolution of Adam’s “southern soul swamp opera” sound. Love and Sweet Maureen come on like Otis Redding sitting in on a Pavement single. Morphine is a haunted morning-after reflection with a guitar hook that stays with you until the next morning. The swamp rock foreshadowing of Gator, the space folk of Saturday, and the Zeppelin vs. White Stripes riffs of Do What I Say present Faucett as part folk crooner, part celestial traveler, part Arkie rock hero – all parts in sharp control of their faculties as writer, storyteller, singer, composer, and guitarist.

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